Electrical apparatus.



No. 872,432. PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

, c. J. KLEIN.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 14 1.111, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED DEG. 3, 1907.

GI J: ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILIJD IAB. 1B, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES JULIUS KLEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO RALPH ABRAHAM SCHOENBERG,

. OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907 Application filed March 18,1907. Serial No. 362,910. 1

' KLEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electrical appa-.

ratus, and more particularly to apparatus of that character known and termed as switches or apparatus for making and breaking electrical circuits. In this art, there are certain switches known as snap switches and other switches known as push button switches, and it is customary, in certain installations of these switches to mount the former, the bodies of which are relatively shallow, upon moldings conveniently placed in building interiors; and to mount the lat- 'ter in boxes or casings set into the walls of c1ent in operation, and more convenient in use as the relative positions of the push buttons indicate the condition of the current in the service wires controlled by the switches. The mechanical movement comprised within push button switches is ordinarily too extensive or bulky in its organization to permit such push button switches to be mounted upon a wall or molding, as above stated, whereas, simple snap switches are conveniently mounted in such manner and project but slightly beyond the wall or molding, causing a minimum obstruction of the room or other building interior. I

As above stated, the ush button type of switches is the most re erable form, and the most in demand in t e best ordered installations.

ing out of same, I have perfected the present invention which has for its object to provide a push button switch, which, while adapted for installation eXteriorly in connection with a wall, molding or other supporting structure, and presenting but a minimum of pro jection in such installation, by union with certain novel connection means, may be readily secured and supported within a wall box or casing to constitute a wall or flush switch. I

The invention has for its object to provide electrical apparatus of the above character with the serviceable and convenient features of adaptability to various conditions and manners of installation above briefly referred to, which shall be simple and convenient in installation and use, and generally su erior in point of efficiency and serviceabi ity.

In the drawings 1-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a molding and a push button switch mounted thereupon; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, partly in vertical section; Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal sectional View, taken upon the line w9c, Fig. 2, of the push button switch shown in the foregoing figures, and

combined with novel connection means according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an essentlal member of sa1 d connection means; Flg. 6 1s a vertical longitudinal sectional view, upon an enlarged scale, of the push button switch and connection means installed in connection with a Wall boxor casing; and, Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view, taken upon the line l/j, Fig. 6.

In all thefigures the switch mechanism or mechanical movement of the same is shown as inclosed in a shell, casing or housing.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, A designates a push button switch, of which a and b are the push buttons proper,

the mechanical movement or switch mechanand in Figs. 6 and 7- said push button switch is disclosed as housed within or connected with a box orcasing C suspended or mounted withinor behind a wall or other structural element D.

E designates connection means whereby the push button switch A, formed and adapted for mounting upon the molding B, may be received within and connected with the wall' box or casing C. There is, of course, no predetermined limitof projection of the push button switch A out from or beyond .fthe molding B, so that such projection shall not .be inconvenient in servlce, but I have button switch of any operative construction which may be conveniently mounted upon a molding or other structural support an also housed within and connected with a wall box or casing. Furthermore, such push button switch, as is customary in every manufacture at fpresent, will be substantially rectangular in 'orm, as shown in the drawings, instead of bein circular in form in agreement with the usua formation of snap switches. This rectangular formation permits of installation of the push button switch upon the molding Within the transverse limits of the molding,

as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3; whereas, the ordinary circular snap switches; frequently over-lap the transverse hmitatlons of the molding, as shown in dotted lines at d,

Fig. 2; such over-lapping of the molding by such circular snap switchesgcausing undesirable obstruction and unsightly a pearance as well as inconvenience in lnsta lation of such snap switches when it is desired to arran e thesame in a series upon a plurality of mo? gs fitting each other side to slde, as

. is often the case. I

F and G designate service wires or conductors extending along the'molding Band controlled by the switch A. The assoclation of such wires withsuch molding or with the box or casing C (not shown) may of course be of any suitable nature.--'

particular form of construction and rel-' ative arrangement and connection 01. parts and members of improvements comprising the invention is as follows :The casing c of the switch A, which is preferably rectangular in form and of porcelain or other insu-v latin material, and which is preferably sur roun ed at its upper or outer portion or nection devices it may be orifice witha metallic/inclosing. band or strip e, incloses and surrounds the mechanical movement or switch mechanism f, of any suitable type, from which project the push buttons a and b, The casing 0 includes an outer member or face plate 9 which incloses the movement or mechanism and through,

plate. g entirely surround and inclose the mechanism or movement f of the switch A when the samev is used in connection with. l the molding B or other supporting structure as shown in Figs; 1 to "3, inclusive. The plate 9 is secured to the mechanism f by a screw or other connection device is. When it is desired to utilize the switch A as a wall switch in connection with the box or casin'g C, the plate g'is detached from the casing c and the connection means or connection member E is combined with the casing c r and the mechanism or'movernent f and with the box or casing 0. Such connection means or member E may consist of an elongated plate with suitable-connections for holdin It in place. The elongated plate is provide holes or o enings p arran ed to registerwith the push uttons (Valid 3 which latter play through said openings p. Between each of the openin s p and the adjacent end portion of the p ate are formed "a plurality of smaller transverse openings r, 8, hand it respectively, counting outwardly from the f respective opening 1). i he .connection devices m consist of two spaced posts or rods 10 arranged within'the box or casing c and projecting outwardly or upwardly from the inner'or bottom 'ortionv o the casing 0, being firmly connecte therewith, as at 8. The posts or rods w are arrangpd beyond the end portions of ,the mec the latter between the former", and when the plate E is fitted upon the casing 0, so that the push buttons a and I) register with the openings p, the openings 1" register with saidn,- which may consist of screws, may be passed through the openings 1- and seated in and over and exteriorly of the movement or 'mec'hanis'm f. Or, alternatively," the conthe openings 8 in the plate and seated in the walls of the casing e, such openings 8 being properly positioned 'to register with the end walls of the casing c. The casing c,

E are then inserted within the box or casing C, and are sec'ured'to a lateral flange 9 formed upon and surrounding the orifice of thebox or casing C, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, such suitable openings h in which the push buttons have their, play. The casing c and its v I intermediate of-its end portions with two a anism or movement so as to embrace U posts. or rods w, and the connection devices the end portlons of the posts. or rods to to firmly bind the plate E upon the casings passed through p v the movement or mechanism f and the plate flange being arranged within a suitable chamber formed in the wall or other structure- D. The connection means or plate E, the casing c, and the mechanism or movement together with the push buttons (land I) are.

. exception of the push buttons (1 and b,

within the box or casing C. To present a neat appearance of the entirety, a face plate F of the standard or any preferred and suit' able type is fitted over or upon the switch A and its i'nclosing box or casing C, extending over the upper or outer surface of the cone nection means or member E and overlapping the same and the flange 9 of the box or casing C, said face plate F being provided with transverse openings 10 registering with the openings p in the plate E and with the push buttons 1).

The connection means or plate E is secured to the flange 9 of the box or casing C by means of screws 101, taking through the beveled opening U and registering with a suitable screw-threaded aperture 100 in the flange 9. The arrangement of parts is such that when the screws 101 are 'seated in the openings U, theirheads are flush with the upper surface of the connection means E, see Fig. 6. The face plate F is secured to the connection means E and through it to the casingl) by the connection means 11 which may be in the form of screws taking through i the recess openings 12 of the face plate F,

the screws registeringwith the screw-threaded apertures t in the connection means E.

The face plate F entirely incloses the switch A and. the connection means or plate E within and upon the box or casing C, and lies flat against the wall or, other supportin structure D. The switch A is now installed for use as a standard flush wall switch.

The method of use, operation and advantages of the improvements described and disclosed will be readily understood from the foregoing, taken in connection with theac companying drawings and. the following statement :-lt ismanifestthat the switch A, i

of the push button type, is readily convertible from an exterior molding or wall switch to an interior or housed wall switch by combining the switch A with the connection means or plate E and then assembling or'installing the entirety in connection with the box' or casing C. Vice ver'sa, the switch A maybereadily removed fromthe box or casing C, together with the connection means or plate E, the latter may be readily removed'from' the switch, and the switch may then be exteriorly mounted or installed upon the molding 13 or other supporting. structure. The

in the respective installations.

face plate 9, which is usedin connection'with the casing a when the switch is mounted upon the molding B, is readily detached fromthe casing c .whenit is desired to unite the connection means or plate E with the switch and mount the latter within the box or casing C. The connection devices n,

whereby the plate 1 is connected with the switch, through the agency of the openings 1' or s in the plate 1, are conveniently and readily-manipulated, and the other connection devices are readily manipulated to attach the plate E to the flange 9 of the box or casing C through the agency of the openings tin the plate 1. The installation of the face plate F, in substitution for the face plate 9,

the switch. It will be understood that in lieu of the connection devices specifically described and disclosed other equivalent and suitable connection devices may be employed, and that the openings in the plate E may be varied in arrangement as required in accordance with the scheme of arrangement and application of the various connection devices for attaching the plate to the switch, to the box or casing C and to the face plate F.

It will be seen that the same switch A mounted upon the molding, as B, or installed exteriorly in any other manner, is made adaptable to installation in connection with a wall box or casing as C by the union with the switch of the connection means or plate E, and that an interchange of face plates F and g isall that is necessary in rovidingthe proper exterior or outer finish or the switch The face plates F are readily obtained in the open market, and any one purchasing a ush button switch as described and disc osed, together with the connection means or plate E, can convenientl adapt the switch to use as aflush wall switch. As an article ofmanufacture a push button switch furnished with the connection means or plate Ewould thus be a decided improvement in the art over any existing switch, having the double capabihty of'use in two distinct standard meth- -ods of installation. B

furnishing a push button switch suitable or mounting upon a molding or other support, and formed to fit within the transverse limits of the molding, the use of the less desirable snap switch may be avoided, the same being substituted for for the service art. 3 v,

It is manifest that the form and nature of.

the connection means or.,plate E may be I widely varied from the specific disclosure herein made. And therefore," I/do notdesire to be understood as limiting myselfto the specific construction'of said connection means or Neither do desire tobe understood aslimiting myself to the particular'conjstruction' and method of application of the several connection *devices herein shown and described for uniting the. connection means or Rlate E with the switch and with the box or casings as well as with the face plate ,F; nor aslimiting myself to the particular" form of push button switch, nor t0 the: relative arrangementand association of parts and members concerned in carrying out the entire invention. But on the contrary, Ireserve theright to vary the same, in adapting the improve ments to varying conditions of use, without departing from the s irit of the invention or the terms of the fol owing claims z+ concerned at present in the late E, shown and described.

switch, a detachable connecting member employed only when such switch is installed Having thus described my invention, I

claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent: a 1. The combination of a push-button switch adapted for use as a molding switch,

of a removable connecting member whereby the switch may be installed within a wall box 2. The combination with ,a push-button. switch normally adapted to be used upon a molding, a detachable member adapted to be removably secured to the switch that it may beused as a flush switch. v v 3. The combination with a push-button the switch may be 

